Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,744, Thomas Follet, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Follet, Thomas
N 14744
"Follett,
Mary
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 2262
Mary Follet, widow of Thomas Follet, deceased, who died on the 31 st of August 1823, of Essex Co. in the State of Massachusetts, who was a private & seaman in the Comp-y. commanded by Captain Broughton, of the regt. commanded by Col. Glover in the Massachusetts line for 8 months private of Ptey. & I do. Seaman.
Entered on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 34 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of August, 1838, and sent to James Gregory Esqr, Marblehead, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $242.62 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. " " 17.33
$259.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d . }
Recorded by G. T. Rhodes Clerk, Book A, Vol. 2 Page 50.

Died 4 th March 1847

X 3600 Mary Follett widow of Thomas. Mass.
married 11 July '79- Secy certificate in 75. pri. 8 mo
Adm D 8 mo pri. July 26. 66 2 Seaman 8.00  $34.66
No deduction
James Gregory Esq Marblehead Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Marblehead. County of Essex - - - - }
On this fourth day of April, A. D. 1838 personally appeared in open Court being the Court of Probate of & for the said County of Essex & Commonwealth aforesaid, Mary Follett, a resident of Lynn in the said County of Essex, aged eighty years come the fifteenth day of April now current, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed March 3rd, A. D. 1836. That she is the widow of Thomas Follett formerly of said Marblehead, & late of Lynn aforesaid, deceased, & who was formerly a Private of the 21 st Regiment of Massachusetts Troop, commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) John Glover & commonly known by the name of the Marblehead Regiment in the Revolutionary War. That her said husband enlisted in said Regiment, at Marblehead aforesaid, on the 26 th day of May A. D. 1775 for the term of Eight months, & belonged to that Company of said Regiment which was commanded by Captain Nicholson Broughton, as will appear by the proof thereto annexed, & that according to the best of her knowledge & belief her said husband continued in the line of his duty at said Marblehead until on or about the twenty-second day of June then next following, at which time the said Regiment marched to Cambridge, near Boston, & joined the Army stationed there then under the command of General Ward; that soon after their arrival at the Camp General Washington arrived & took the command of all the Forces assembled there. That her said husband continued with the Army in said Regiment doing his duty until some time about the close of the year, when he was honorably discharged. But of the precise day of his discharge she cannot declare with absolute certainty. She further declares that she knows of no person living who served in said Company, & has no Documentary proof relative to the precise length of her said husband's service.
She further declares that according to the statements of her said late husband & others, made in his life time, & the best of her knowledge & belief - sometime in the month of August A. D. 1779 - he entered the Public Naval Service of the said State of Massachusetts, as a Seaman, & joined the Fleet then fitting out of Boston for an Expedition to the Penobscot River, with the view of breaking up & destroying the Lumber Establishment of the British at that place & under the command of Dudley Saltonstall Esquire; that he sailed from said Boston a few days after & soon arrived before the enemy's Fortresses upon that River, where he continued in the line of his duty manning & skilfully working with the enemy - by which the Fleet lost a great number of its men - for the period of about two months - without effecting the object of the Expedition. That by this time the Enemy having obtained intelligence of the Siege, sent a Powerful Fleet of Men of War, which, arriving at the mouth of the Bay, the Rebels had to seek safety in flight; that but two Vessels succeeded in getting to sea, while the others had to run up the River as far as the depth of the water would permit, & where they lay for about five weeks, at

which time Commodore Pattullo gave order to blow the whole up, & for the officers & crew to make the best of their way through the wilderness home: That said Fleet was accordingly blown up, & destroyed, & the men made the best of their way toward Cape Breton, whither, after losing several of their number from exposure, exhaustion & fatigue - they all having to live upon roots, ground-nuts, bark &c. for most of the way, - they arrived after a passage of nine days, through the water to their homes, in the month of December, after an absence of about four months.
She further Declares that her said husband was in service during in the said War of the Revolution, &, among others in the Brig. General Lincoln, Carner, of Salem, as Boston also the Schooner Spring Bird, Patten, of Marblehead, & various others; that her said husband was also in service in the late war, & afterwards belonged to the United States Flotilla, stationed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, & served therein until after the Peace: That both her said husband & herself were born & brought up, & always lived in said Marblehead until the year 1821, when they removed to the town of Lynn, aforesaid - where her said husband died of age & infirmities on the 21 st of August. A.D. 1828.
She further Declares that she was married to the said Thomas Follett on the eleventh day of July seventeen hundred & seventy-nine, & that she has remained a widow ever since, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof heret annexed.
Witness my hand, the said Mary Follett, Thomas Follett, her mark. Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid.
Before me.
J. H. White { Judge of Probate for the said County
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essex ss. Probate office.
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of Probate for said county, hereby certify, that the foregoing are the original proceedings of the court of Probate in the case of the application of Mary Follett for a pension.
Given under my hand and seal of office this fourth day of April, anno Domini 1838.
Nath. Lord jr.

Extract from the Records of Marriages in the Town of Marblehead County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, by Rev Isaac Storer.
July eleventh One thousand, seven hundred seventy, nine.
M c Thomas Fallett and Miss Mary Blancy.
I certify that the above is a true extract of the records, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record, in four Arabic figures as follows: July 11 1779.
Rich d Homan
I, Richard Homan above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the Town of Marblehead in the County & State aforesaid & that the above is a true extract from the Records of Marriages in said Town, with the exceptions above named, as certified by me.
Rich d Homan, Clerk of the town of Marblehead.
Essex ss.
Marblehead April 7 th 1858.
Then personally appeared Richard Homan a credible witness & made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
before me,
James Gregory Justice of the Peace.
I the subscriber do hereby certify that the Blur made about the name of Mary Fallett, on the opposite page, arose from writing her maiden name (Blancy) for the reception of her mark instead of her married name all through mistake - & that the erasure of the word "Blancy" & substitution of the word "Fallett" was made before she signed her mark & swore to the truth of the Declaration before the aforesaid Judge; & further, that no alteration whatever has been made in or about said Declaration since its execution as aforesaid.
Attest, James Gregory J. of the Peace.

I, James Campbell, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Fisherman, Do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the seventieth year of my age; that in the late war I was a quarter gunner on board the United States Brig Rattlesnake, & was captured in said Brig. that I have followed the seas for a livelihood for forty years ; that I was well acquainted with Thomas Follett formerly of Marblehead deceased. that I was at sea, in the fishing business with said Follett "off & on" for more than twelve years ; that the last time I was at sea with him was on a voyage to the Grand Bank, when we were sent upon the commencement of hostilities, in 1812, to warn the fishermen then on the Grand Bank of the War. Having been a neighbor & companion of the said Follett for many years I have frequently heard him relate his Revolutionary services sufferings while at Cambridge & other places, & in particular his sufferings while engaged in & on the Pensylvania Expedition . I have been acquainted with the widow of said Thomas Follett for many years, whose maiden name was Mary Blaney. Her husband the said Thomas, died in Lynn in the said County of Essex more than fourteen years ago, & I know that when the said Mary has remained his widow ever since his death.
And I do further declare that I have always understood & believed - from the narrative of said Follett & others of his companions who were in said Expedition - in their life times, that, from the time of their entering on board until they finally arrived at their homes, was full four months .
Witness my the words & sufferings interlined before signing.
James Campbell
James Gregory John Goodwin
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Marblehead, April 17th, 1838. County of Essex - - - - -
Then James Campbell, a credible witness, a person whom I have known for more than twenty years, personally appeared & made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, is, according to the best of his knowledge & belief, in all respects true, -
Before me, James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss.
I John Prince Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that James Gregory is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that his signa- ture hereon is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court June 14. 1838.
John Prince Clk.

dep Conn for WIDOW, &c.
No. 14744
Mary Grollet widow of Thomas Grollet Pr. Rev War
Act: July 4 th 36
Ex:—Vol. 2 , Page 248
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston April 21. 1838.
I hereby certify that the name of Thomas Follet is borne on "A Muster Roll of the Company under the command of Nicholas Broughton in Col. Jno. Glover's Regiment," as a private. To the first of August 1778, he enlisted May 26 th and served two months and eleven days.
In testimony of which I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the day of the date above written.
John P. Bigelow Secy of the Com'th

Resolve for sending a Naval force to Penobscot Passed June 24. 1779.
The Committee of both Houses appointed to take into consideration the Letter from Brigadier Cushing, and report what may be proper to be done thereon, have attended said service, and report as their opinion that it is expedient to send a Naval force to Penobscot, to dislodge the enemy that has lately taken post there; that the Board of War be directed to fit for sea all armed vessels belonging to this State that can be fitted for a Cruise against said Enemy within six days, and the Navy Board and owners of private armed vessels now in the port of Boston, and in the ports of Salem, Marblehead, Beverly and Newbury-port, be desired to fit such vessels for sea that can be got ready within six days, to co-operate with the State vessels against said Enemy.
The foregoing is a true copy attest
John D. Bigelow
Secy of the Com'tee

Resolve for making up the Rolls of the Officers and Mariners in the Transports employed on the Expedition to Penobscot to the 4 th of September last, passed November 27 th 1779.
On the Petition of Joshua Davis Agent for transports on the late unfortunate expedition to Penobscot.
Resolved, That the petitioner be, and he is hereby directed to make up his returns of pay-rolls for the Wages of the Officers and Mariners in the transports on the expedition aforesaid to the 4 th of September last, and no longer, being three weeks after the destruction of the vessels employed on that service, and that all the other matters and things contained in said petition be referred to the Board of War, to act thereon as they may think just and right.
The foregoing is a true copy attest
John P. Bigelow
Sec'y of the Com tee

Mary Follett Wid of Thomas J. Mink act 4 July 1836. / 34 3/4 p.m.
To what time was the last paid's R. L. A.
Pension Office Decr. 16 1848 } Died 4 March 1847. for her death W. Tipton

1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000
Gregory
St. Nicholas
1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000

Dear Sir
Boston April 1838
I have the honor to enclose the certificate which I think the Service  Land Office is entirely superfluous as it has been a notorious fact long established that the Land Office  is  at  the  Wadsworth  Office Yes (in part) E. H. Homer
Col. Gregory Esq.

Aug 11.
Inst. 1 Inst.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Wash. D.C.
100-100

Aug 11
Inst map
11
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

I, Thomas Hinckley, of Ipswich, in the County of Essex, & State of Massachusetts, do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the Seventy eighth year of my age; that I took an active part in the War of the Revolution both by Sea & Land; that I am now in the receipt of a Pension under the Act of June, the 1832 for part of the services I performed in said War; that I was a Seaman on board the Ship Skyrocket, Capt William Burke, in the British Expedition, in the month of July 1779, & I well remember that Thomas Pollett late of Marblehead, deceased, belonged to said Expedition & was attached to the Ship Hector John Crows of Salem, commander. I was acquainted with said Pollett afterwards in the Brig Liberty of Salem, when said Pollett was Portstown's mate of her, & I then frequently conversed with Pollett upon his sufferings in said Expedition in travelling home after the Fleet was blown up. I myself was taken sick the day we ran up the River - put on shore & taken prisoner after the Destruction of the Fleet.
Thos. Hinckley
John Miggins James Gage

State of Massachusetts County of Dukes
ss. Yarmouth. Aug. 3 rd 1888
Then the within named Thomas Kimball, a Sea Captain, & a person who is recommended to me as a gentleman of good character for morality & truth & veracity, & whom, though a stranger to me, I have reason to believe is such, - personally appeared & made oath in due form of law to the truth of the within affidavit, in my presence by him subscribed, Before me.
Daniel Gregory, Doctor of the Dean

Marblehead, Aug 6th 1858.
Honored Sir, — I have received your favor of the 26th. Ult. stating that "In the case of Mrs. Mary Follett, widow of Thomas Follett deceased, whose papers are placed on our files, the evidence is satisfactory as to the marriage, & the first term of Service of eight months in 1775. But the proof of the alleged service on board the Hector in the Pownall Expedition is not as satisfactory as it should be. It is necessary to establish this term in order to bring her case within the provisions of the act of 4th July 1836."
Since the receipt of your Honor's letters I have obtained the affidavit of Capt. Thomas Kimball of Haverhill, in this County, who avers that he has a distinct recollection that Mrs. Follett's late husband was there. Said affidavit is hereto annexed, & as he avers therein that he is a Pensioner under the act of June 7th. '32, I have no doubt that the Declaration upon which he was pensioned corroborates his statement as far as he is concerned. As the Clerk's Certificate of my qualifications for administering oaths is already forwarded with Mrs. Follett's documents, I have thought it unnecessary to forward another with this affidavit. I am, Honored Sir, very respectfully, your M. Sub. James Goguen James Goguen Esq. Commissary of Pensions, Washington, (P. O.)

Marblehead June 21 st 1838.
Honored Sir, - I have the honor herewith to forward you the Declaration of Mary Follett, widow of Thomas Follett (who was a soldier & mariner in the War of the Revolution) & who claims the benefit of the act of July 4 th , 1836. You will perceive that the Declaration was taken in April last (before the Probate Court then sitting in this town), & the reason, I may say, why I have not forwarded it before exists in the fact that pressing engagements & the desire of procuring a living witness has prevented it.
Mrs Follett was married, as you will observe by the proof herewith, the same month the Penobscot Expedition sailed from Boston. It is of course therefore of paramount importance that she should satisfy your honor that her deceased Partner was in said Expedition or some other Public Service after July 11 th , 1839, to enable her to claim under said act, for the services performed before that period. Unfortunately we have but one person living in this place (out of near two hundred) who was in said Expedition, & he being a mere boy at the time, having to be carried, as he himself states, on the shoulders of the men across the bogs & morasses of the wilderness after the destruction of the Fleet - has but an

indistinct recollection of the names of those of his fellow townsman who were with him & is therefore unwilling to swear to the fact that Follett was there. I am therefore fearful, that, if "traditional evidence", & the widow's own Declaration (in the absence of Documentary proof) will not answer, that she will never obtain that relief which it is believed is justly due her.
I do hope, however, that Documentary evidence of Follett's services in said Expedition may be found among the Massachusetts Documents now in the War Department at Washington. I have heard it rumored that your honor had stated there were no evidence in said Department of the services of any person in said Expedition, & under this impression I called upon E. Hemenway, the gentleman who has charge of the Revolutionary Papers now now in our State House, & he has sent me a certificate affirming thereto, & which, with its envelope, I herewith send you. By a remark of his upon the envelope you will discover that he is sanguine in his belief that that the necessary Documentary evidence is now at Washington.
Tradition says that Follett's services in the said Expedition was on board the Ship Hector, Capt. Carnes, - So that, if any roll or record of the names of the crew of said Ship are now

in Washington, the fact of Pollett's services in said regt can be easily tested.
The fact of the service of Pollett in Glover's Regiment for the period of eight months, or, in other words, in the "eight months service", will have to rest altogether upon the Declaration of his widow & the Seritang's Certificate sent herewith, & the fact that said Regiment was enlisted for eight months, as before proved to your honors satisfaction, & allowed for, upon living testimo- ny in 1833, — as I had occasion to mention in my letter accompanying the Declaration of Lydia Dennis on the 9th of April last.
Only one person who served in said Company or Regiment is now living, any where, as far as I have been able to find. John Chapman, of Bury, in this County, made another, but he breathed his last on the 9th inst. William Thompson of this town is therefore the only one who can be consulted as a living witness, & as he served in the Company of Capt. Joel Smith (Pollett served in Broughams) he has no positive recollection of Pollett.
I am, honored Sir, very respectfully,
Your obt. Servt.
James L. Edwards Esq Connerium of Pensylvania, Washington, D.C.
James Gregory
vid. the whole Pollett & the Regiment refusing to in the Certificate, & the only one found carrying the order no further than August 18th 33. said Pollett on more than one occasion, & it can be found that he was in the first three Regiments and during the time that the above was the first.

in Washington, the fact of Pollette's services in said regiment can be easily tested.
The fact of the service of Pollette in Glover's Regiment for the period of eight months, or, in other words, in the "eight months service", will have to rest altogether upon the Declaration of his widow & the Secretary's Certificate sent herewith, & the fact that said Regiment was enlisted for eight months, as before proved to your honors' satisfaction, & allowed for, upon living testimo- ny in 1833, — as I had occasion to mention in my letter accompanying the Declaration of Lydia Dennis on the 9th of April last.
N.B. The above Pollette & the Regiment refusing to in the Certificate, the only ones found among the papers in further than August 1819. But Pollette are none of them. Pollette & it can be found there were three Regiments was surely the time & that the above was the first.
Only one person who served in said Company or Regiment is now living, any where, as far as I have been able to find. John Chapman, of Barre, in this County, made another, but he breathed his last on the 9th inst. William Thompson of this town is therefore the only one who can be consulted as a living witness, & as he served in the Company of Capt. Joel Smith (Pollette served in Burroughs') he has no positive recollection of Pollette.
I am, honored Sir, very respectfully,
Your ob. Servt.
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
James Gregory